In this episode, we speak with Brett Hickey, Founder and CEO of Star Mountain Capital, a specialized U.S. lower middle-market asset management firm. Founded in 2010, Star Mountain focuses on providing debt and equity capital to established, growing small and medium-sized businesses, as well as acquiring LP interests in lower middle-market funds, often at a discount.

Star Mountain manages approximately $4.5 billion in assets under management and has completed more than 350 direct investments and over 40 secondary or fund investments since inception. The firm is 100% employee-owned, with more than 100 team members and senior advisors sharing in the firm’s investment profits.

Brett founded Star Mountain after previously co-founding and serving as President of a multi-manager platform that included four U.S. state-sponsored small business investment funds. Earlier in his career, he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup Global Markets, advising leading asset managers and financial institutions on more than $8 billion in completed transactions.

Star Mountain was recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap.

Brett supports YMCA. To learn more about this organization click here.

I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

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